NORTON, Sept 6: Fiji's Vijay Singh took a step closer to gaining the world number one ranking by extending his lead to three shots over Tiger Woods in Sunday's third round of the $5 million Deutsche Bank Championship.

After shooting an eight-under-par 63 on Saturday, Singh tied the lowest round of the day with a three-under-par 68 to move to 14-under 199. Woods shot a two-under-par 69 to slip a shot further back from Singh, who if he wins on Monday will take over from the American as world number one and move past the $7 million mark for earnings this year, eclipsing his 2003 total of $7,573,907 - his best year on the PGA Tour.

A victory would also virtually sew up the Player of the Year award for the US PGA champion who has five Tour victories this season. Bill Haas shot an even-par 71 to stay in the hunt at nine-under-par and third overall while Japan's Shigeki Maruyama also shot an even-par 71 and is six shots behind Singh in fourth.

Jay Williamson and defending champion Adam Scott are tied for fifth at seven-under-par, while first round co-leader Ryan Palmer dropped to ninth place at five-under-par after shooting 74. Singh sank three birdies to make the turn at three-under-par 33, but had to wait until the final hole for his next birdie.

LEADING THIRD ROUND SCORES:

199 - Vijay Singh (Fiji) 68, 63, 68.

202 - Tiger Woods (US) 65, 68, 69.

204 - Bill Haas (US) 69, 64, 71.

205 - Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 68, 66, 71.

206 - Jay Williamson (US) 68, 68, 70; Adam Scott (Australia) 69, 67, 70.

207 - Daniel Chopra (Sweden) 68, 69, 70; Hank Kuehne (US) 68, 68, 71.

208 - Ryan Palmer (US) 65, 69, 74; John Rollins (US) 67, 66, 75.

209 - Brad Faxon (US) 72, 69, 68; Dan Forsman (US) 68, 72, 69; Tim Petrovic (US) 70, 68, 71; Skip Kendall (US (69, 69, 71; Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 69, 68, 72; Deane Pappas (South Africa) 67, 70, 72; Jonathan Byrd (US) 66, 71, 72.

210 - Arron Oberholser (US) 70, 69, 71; Dennis Paulson (US) 69, 70, 71; Dean Wilson (US) 71, 71, 68. -Reuters